Westboro Baptist Church plans San Diego protests at 29 locations

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

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They’re here: Loud, raucous crowd combats Westboro Baptist Church

A Kansas-based Baptist church known for its anti-gay, anti-Semitic and anti-military protests is planning four days of demonstrations at 29 locations in San Diego County next week.

Westboro Baptist church member Gabriel Phelps-Roper, 10, and his sister Grace Phelps-Roper, 13, both of Topeka, Kan., protest at the funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder in Westminster, Md. in this March 10, 2006, file photo. The father of the fallen Marine has been awarded $2.9 million by a jury that found leaders of the fundamentalist Westboro Baptist church had invaded the family's privacy when they picketed the Marine's funeral. (AP Photo/Carroll County Times, Dylan Slagle)

On Oct. 16, Westboro Baptist Church will begin protesting outside local churches, Jewish community centers and high schools — but gay rights activists and Jewish community leaders don’t know why Westboro’s members are targeting San Diego.

“What significant catalyst is bringing [Westboro] to San Diego, aside from the fact San Diego in October is a beautiful place to be?” said Morris Casuto, regional director for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in San Diego.

“We don’t really know what the rationale is,” said Ben Cartwright, the higher education and nonprofit liaison for the online news startup San Diego Gay and Lesbian News (SDGLN).

Westboro — founded in Topeka in 1955 by Fred Phelps — is well-known for its demonstrations outside military funerals, and for its protesters’ colorful signs. Among them: “God Hates Fags,” “Thank God for Dead Soldiers,” “Thank God for IEDs,” “God Hates the U.S.A.,” “The Jews Killed Jesus,” and “God Hates You.”

The church gained notoriety for demonstrating outside the funeral for Matthew Shepard — a gay Wyoming man who was murdered in 1998 — with signs that read, “Matthew Shepard Rots in Hell.”

Cartwright — who is organizing a vigil for the eleventh anniversary of Shepard’s murder, Oct. 12 — is also organizing demonstrations to counter Westboro’s protests. On Westboro’s Web site, the church targets San Diego High School for “telling kids its OK to be fags.” The church will protest outside the downtown school at 2:10 p.m. on Oct. 16.

Using social media sites like Facebook, Cartwright has mobilized more than 100 people to counter-protest. In recent years, Cartwright said Westboro’s members have focused less on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, and more on the Jewish and military communities.

Many of the local demonstration locations are Jewish schools, temples, or Jewish community centers.

“They’ve retained their obscene homophobia, but have always had an anti-Semitic streak to them, and now they have, for whatever reason, decided to bring their anti-Semitism to the forefront of their activity,” Casuto said.

Casuto and Steven J. Morris, chief executive officer of the United Jewish Federation of San Diego County, said the ADL will meet Thursday with Jewish community groups to formulate a response. Casuto said the ADL will encourage people to “go on with their business.”

“In general, [Westboro's] greatest ongoing need is for media attention,” Casuto said. “Responding to that which what we think they need, our suggestion is to not counter-demonstrate … If there are counter-demonstrations, you can be certain there will be media attention. And that is, in fact, what they want.”

Despite the antagonizing language, Westboro’s protests are often peaceful demonstrations. They do, however, incite counter demonstrations that can turn violent. A spokesperson for the San Diego Police Department said Westboro contacted the SDPD with its demonstration schedule, and the police department will provide “adequate” coverage of the demonstrations.

“The risk of violence lies with the anger of the counter demonstrators, and this group is not unknown for suing municipalities that fail to protect them,” Casuto said.

Alex Miranda, a 19-year-old student at the Art Institute, set up a Facebook page to organize a “Noise Out” counter-demonstration at San Diego High School. Miranda is encouraging participants to bring musical instruments to play, and drown out the chants of Westboro’s protesters.

“It hurts to see so much hatred directed at people for no reason,” Miranda said.

“[Engaging] them would be pointless,” Miranda said. “I want to divert peoples’ attention from them as much as possible. I think it’ll be neat to silence them with our instruments and our voices.”

Tags: Anti Defamation League San Diego, Ben Cartwright, Fred Phelps, Matthew Shepard, Morris Casuto, San Diego Gay and Lesbian News, San Diego High School, San Diego Police Department, SDGLN.com, SDNN, Steven J. Morris, United Jewish Federation of San Diego County, Westboro Baptist Church, Westboro Baptist Church San Diego

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Comment by: Linda Posted: October 7, 2009, 7:14 am

As a child of the 60s my first response to this story was to join the protest against this ridiculous “invasion” of San Diego by the Westboro church. However, I agree that what they really want is media exposure, and by staging conter-demonstrations that is exactly what they will get. It is hard to ignore the insult and hur that thier inflammatory signs and tshirts cause, but the most effective response to their ignorance and prejudice might be to simply ignore them and not turn this into a media circus.

Comment by: cas Posted: October 7, 2009, 8:45 am

I hope the City of San Diego is planning to charge this group for the cost of their protection. I don’t want my tax dollars to go to this.

Comment by: Ruth H Posted: October 7, 2009, 8:52 am

Stirring up hatred does not solve any problems - only makes more.

Comment by: jason Posted: October 7, 2009, 8:52 am

Not that I disagree, but it IS funny / ironic that media coverage of these guys’ PLANS to come to SD blames media coverage (at least partially) for Westboro’s message getting out.

Comment by: Jennifer Posted: October 7, 2009, 11:05 am

Yikes! just reading about all that anger made me feel sorry for those people. Maybe they should try some yoga or something… or maybe they also hate peace and calm. Wasn’t Jesus about Love.. goodness I could go on and on. On a different note - I understand protesting war, or whatever the warped rationale is - but what are they protesting Jewish people for? being born? or just not being christian? sheesh! And a community center? Protesting services that help less fortunate people? WTF???

Comment by: Branden Posted: October 7, 2009, 11:07 am

please spread the word and promote the “noise out” there is nothing more powerful than the sound of musical instruments, lets drown their voices out in the most peacful way there is. The beauty of the instrument.

Comment by: Mouse Posted: October 7, 2009, 11:37 am

I suggest that we send vendors to sell San Diego trinkets to these wack-jobs, and then donate the proceeds to organizations that are opposite of their hateful cause.

Comment by: Johnny Richardson Posted: October 7, 2009, 7:06 pm

Hey Westboro Church I hope you know that God is watching all of this and I pray that he and the angels will invade in your church’s hatred! This is satan’s power running through Westboro Church and its people who is swimming in hatred! Satan, you will NOT succeed in Jesus’ name, Amen. We as GBLT Christians will NOT let you. Instead, we will pray for our enemies.

Comment by: Varian Posted: October 8, 2009, 3:02 am

I may not agree with their message but I would fight to defend their right to speak it.
But of course that is a totally alien concept to the leftist hypercritic, pro homo atheist masses that spew their better than you BS on anyone who shows opposition to them. They like to ‘dish it out’ but when it comes back to bite them in the ass they cry( take your pick) 1/ racism 2/ discrimination etc… Boo hoo hoo, for Christ sake lighten’ up and get over it!
Are you listening Alex Miranda-IT’S CALLED FREE SPEECH-DEMOCRACY- OR DID YOU MISS THAT LESSON IN HIGH SCHOOL ?

Comment by: Bob Posted: October 8, 2009, 8:49 am

If anyone had done any reporting, or, for example, look at the Westboro website — offensive and vile that as it is — you could probably make the connection that AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee) is holding its national meeting in San Diego next week. They’ll be protesting that event, which is most likely why they’re coming out to San Diego.

If you think that this is worthy of being reported on, you should report on it fully.

Comment by: J. C. Posted: October 8, 2009, 5:54 pm

I think all of the racial, ethnic, and religious minority organizations should get together and rotate regular protests at the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas as well as at the home of Fred Phelps. There should be no let-up of these protests until Fred Phelps and his family stop their harrassment.

Comment by: Dr. J.N. Schilder, MD, PhD Posted: October 8, 2009, 11:21 pm

Westboro church should be reminded of Pauls’s words in Romans 11: “What I am saying is this: is it possible that God abandoned his people? Out of the question! (–)Israel failed to find what it was seeking; only those who were chosen found it and the rest had their minds hardened; 8just as it says in scripture: God has infused them with a spirit of lethargy; until today they have not eyes to see or ears to hear. (–) What I am saying is this: Was this stumbling to lead to their final downfall? Out of the question! On the contrary, their failure has brought salvation for the gentiles, in order to stir them to envy. 12And if their fall has proved a great gain to the world, and their loss has proved a great gain to the gentiles-how much greater a gain will come when all is restored to them! (–)Since their rejection meant the reconciliation of the world, do you know what their re-acceptance will mean? Nothing less than life from the dead!

Westboro should look at this promise and at the restoration of the State of Israel as one of the first steps in it’s fulfillment; “when all is restored to them”!.

Comment by: Demandside Posted: October 9, 2009, 5:20 am

I lot of people are shocked by the anti-semetic statements these mutants make. I am not. I have heard these types of statements many times before. This is the type of thought that, when escalated, leads to the inquisition and the Nazi’s. Look what happened in Germany in the 1930’s. I defend their right to free speech. But, being silient is wrong. Boy, they must hate the constitution and the USA. Since it has been determined that they hate everything about the USA, I think they should pack their bags and leave and find a good theocracy to live in, maybe Iran.

NEVER AGAIN!!

Comment by: Michael Long Posted: October 9, 2009, 3:15 pm

I do not agree with the Gays or Jews on very many fronts-but this is AMERICA!,and they have a right to their FREEDOMS as granted in the Constitution.
These BIGOTS also (I’m revolted to say),also have a right to a say-but A SAY ONLY! With that I will be coming out on Oct. 16th to SUPPORT the GAYS, JEWS,MILITARY, and anything else this so called
“church”is promoting Hate against. This will be difficult for me,because my normal reaction to this type of thinking is to JUST KICK A LITTLE ASS! But I’m trying to change.
Look up the songs of the singer “Voltaire” es-
pecially “GOD THINKS” it surley fits for these “I-
DIOTS’!

Comment by: Sarah Posted: October 9, 2009, 7:47 pm

I pray for their souls, which will all rot in hell.

Comment by: Mary Posted: October 9, 2009, 8:08 pm

The Phelps family is doing nothing more than telling you what the Bible says with signs. It’s not all about love and mercy and forgiveness. Jesus talks more about Hell than He does Heaven, and in no uncertain terms He said that He will send unrepentant sinners there. For example:

“The Son of Man (Jesus) shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:41-42)

Does that sound like love? Not to me. It sounds like visceral hatred. You probably didn’t know this because your money-loving preacher won’t tell you … and face it, half of you out there read at a 6th grade level, so you are never going to pick up a Bible.

Comment by: Vic Posted: October 9, 2009, 9:53 pm

Sure, they have free speech, same as you do. The rest of the so-called Christian wing nuts have free speech and could denounce these freaks, but they won’t. That’s because they’re quite happy to have some of their own say what they’re thinking privately. Christianity hasn’t matured one bit since the Inquisition, and its lowest common denominator is making a comeback—at the Jews, as always. Q.E.D.

Comment by: LunaMu Posted: October 10, 2009, 12:21 am

Freedom of speech is guaranteed by the First Amendment, but it is a “limited warranty”. There are exceptions, including defamation, fighting words and incitement to crime. They state as fact, not opinion, that Matthew Shepard is burning in hell. Is that not defamation, and doesn’t it harm Shepard’s family? Isn’t a sign that says “Thank God for Dead Soldiers” fighting words when displayed outside of a soldier’s funeral? Isn’t standing outside of a synagogue yelling “Death to Jews” incitement to violence? There is a line and these people are toeing it, if they haven’t already crossed it.

It’s incredible that lunatics like this can take a book written by and for Jews and twist its message to justify hatred of Jews, and everyone else.

These people join the Taliban and al Qaeda as irrefutable proof that religious extremism brings out the very worst in mankind.

To Mary: I feel sorry for you. You are clearly seething with hate and just looking for some justification to make you feel good about hating anyone who isn’t like you. There is another passage of Matthew that is appropriate to you and your fellow believers at the Westboro Baptist Church: “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” Matthew 6:1.

Comment by: Jeff Posted: October 10, 2009, 3:05 am

Disgusting. Don’t give these guys the time of day. Go about your business as usual, all they want is attention.

Comment by: Jeff Posted: October 10, 2009, 3:06 am

Phelps was also disbarred for misrepresentation of the truth, he has no morals

Comment by: Marc Posted: October 10, 2009, 12:09 pm

Lol, Westboro is in for a treat given that SD is a major military town. nuff said.

Comment by: Marc Posted: October 10, 2009, 12:15 pm

They’re not in Kansas anymore…anyways, they have every right to do what they’re doing just as much as good people have the right to spread their good word. The best thing we can do is to let them do what they do, acknowledge what they’re doing and don’t let our anger get to us because that’s obviously how they want us to react. We need to stand up and be the bigger person. Just remember in the end that they’ll get theirs and if you believe in God, well, you know that they’ll get their day when they’ll be judged.

Comment by: Humilis Vir Posted: October 10, 2009, 12:27 pm

I have been waiting so long for the Westboro baptists to come out to San Diego, but now that I am studying out of state, I am greatly disappointed in the fact that I am not being able to share this experience with you all. I hope that my fellow San Diegans are able to treat these visitors with compassion and the respect that they deserve as human beings, even if some of us might not feel that they deserve it, and let us go on with our days hoping that they have a change of heart. Do not feed hatred with hatred, and be cautious of pride. Try to be humble.

Comment by: Marc Posted: October 10, 2009, 12:31 pm

In response to Mary,
The Phelps family is doing nothing more than telling you what the Bible says with signs. It’s not all about love and mercy and forgiveness. Jesus talks more about Hell than He does Heaven, and in no uncertain terms He said that He will send unrepentant sinners there. For example:
“The Son of Man (Jesus) shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:41-42)
Does that sound like love? Not to me. It sounds like visceral hatred. You probably didn’t know this because your money-loving preacher won’t tell you … and face it, half of you out there read at a 6th grade level, so you are never going to pick up a Bible.”
Unfortunetly, The bible is not the direct word of Jesus and obviously not a direct word from God. Jesus didn’t carry a bible to his Sermon on the Mount. He didn’t have a bible study at his Last Supper. Many Christians, Muslims, and Jews regard the Bible as inspired by God yet written by a variety of imperfect men over thousands of years. You guys throw excerpts from the bible at each other like its a rule book. God created us all different for a reason. In my opinion, to see how we all deal with each other. I believe that its only human for us to judge, but superiorly who are we to judge? That goes for us as haters, good people, bad people, gays, jews, black, white, purple green. If we believe in God, then let go and let God. Our time here on earth is only temporary.

Comment by: Joe Posted: October 12, 2009, 10:13 am

The Phelps family is, in a way, doing a public service by displaying religion PER SE for what it really is– a source of irrational hatred. The occasional messages of love and peace touted by religous apologists are reserved only for those that agree with their particular dogma. Disagree and you get an Inquisition, Holocaust, a Middle East turf war, or 911. Not to mention fictitious eternal torture.

The solution to religious insanity isn’t to switch brands (like switching from crank to coke) the solution is a rational humanism.

Comment by: Ryan Posted: October 12, 2009, 4:59 pm

I grew up in Kansas, and I’m way too familiar with this clan.

I can’t stress it enough: The best thing you can do is ignore them. They are nothing but attention whores and getting into a confrontation with them or screaming at them or anything just makes their day. IGNORE THEM.

Comment by: Vic Posted: October 13, 2009, 8:50 am

@Ryan: The better solution would be to stop these demented inbreeds from the midwest from coming to California in the first place.

Comment by: John Posted: October 13, 2009, 2:34 pm

We need to petition the city counsel to pass a law forbidding tax dollars to pay for private security. That would force these non-residents of san diego to pay for the security they think they need.

Comment by: John Posted: October 13, 2009, 2:35 pm

Im for free speech too. But it irks me that they are protesting children. Can they be allowed to say some of these things to minors and have it be okay?

Comment by: Bill A Posted: October 13, 2009, 9:14 pm

Freedom of speech can be an ugly thing, but I don’t see what all the fuss is about. Phelps’ message is only different from other church groups in it’s vulgarity not in it’s substance.

He lost me at “God Hates…”

Comment by: Suzie Posted: October 15, 2009, 9:08 am

I’m disgusted at this group! They are picketing public schools, as well as private schools. They are even picketing The Rock Church (which I don’t get at all).

It’s bad enough that they spew their messages of hate, but to direct it at kids — unbelievable! This Fred Phelps, the head of this church, is also a child abuser, thinks it’s ok to beat his kids. He is totally insane. I agree, about ignoring these nutjobs. May Mother Nature bring about a lot of Santa Ana winds that day — maybe some 90degree plus hot driving winds will give them some pink eye and blow their signs down.

Comment by: T-Dog Posted: October 15, 2009, 9:01 pm

SILENT NON VIOLENT PROTEST PLEASE. Remember Ghandi’s protests and Mandela’s quiet wisdom.

Comment by: Erik Posted: October 16, 2009, 6:58 pm

This is a gross misrepresentation of Christianity such as Muslims blowing up buildings is a gross miss representation of Islam

Comment by: SB Posted: October 17, 2009, 12:47 am

They should be treated to something similar to a shellback initiation. Welcome to SD!

Comment by: Bill Taylor Posted: October 19, 2009, 12:40 pm

Just another example of the wonderful things religon teaches and does!! Religon is for weak minded people!!

Comment by: T Skin Posted: November 6, 2009, 5:59 am

I pray for the ones that cannot be saved.

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